Billy Kingsley

They have put in a few here in the Hudson valley and they have made every road more dangerous and annoying to drive. People are too impatient to wait two or three minutes at a traffic light so now everybody has to fight for the same circle of pavement at the same time. Three of them were put in on a strait road with only one other road meeting it.

I'm a bit different than most on here in that I don't own an old car and can't work on them, but my interests have definitely changed. Not only that, I know the exact time and place they changed. I was into hot rods and customs growing up, but it all changed for me when I saw a (I believe) 1937 Terraplane heavily modified to look like every other rather generic mid 2000s build, in flat black primer, ugh. It was the first time I had ever seen one in person, but it was just a shell of what it should have been. It was then and there I fell out of love with hot rods and switched to full stock. I still like some hot rods, if they are tasteful. If I had the money I would probably build and daily drive a 32-34 Ford using all the reproduction parts available even. I do tend to build hot rods in plastic model form because it allows me to play with colors and also I don't have enough knowledge to do factory stock builds in many cases. One other thing is that growing up I was very, very biased for American cars. There were maybe four non-American cars I liked when I was a kid. (Volkswagen Beetle, Ferrari F40, Lamborghini Countach and Acura NSX to be exact...in case you can't tell I grew up in the late 80s/early 90s😂) and as I've aged I have come to appreciate others much more. I still think we as a country make and made the best but at least now I can appreciate and enjoy others. I've even been to an all-import show at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, something that I could never have imagined doing when I was younger. My lifetime love of automobiles is still maturing and growing as I go along. The more knowledge I aquire, the more I love... everything. Anything I learn makes me appreciate it all so much more. Any vehicle that can propel itself just makes me happy. I don't know what the future holds but based on my past life experiences I know it will change again and again, and I'm looking forward to finding out where the journey takes me, both physically and metaphorically.

I have no knowledge to add to this post but I have to say the thread starter may have the best username I've seen on my 23 years of message board posting 😂

I got two models and six cans of primer, which, knowing me, will be used up by June. I also got some NASCAR trading cards, which is a major collection of mine. My brother made my present car shaped. That's actually the primer in there. He carefully cut a cardboard box to make the car shape.

I am 99.9% sure Trace Adkins, country music star, stopped by the model car contest at the Goodguys show in Rhinebeck NY several years back, while I was behind the table. My model club ran the contest and we all got into the show for free...good times. Looked like him, sounded like him, you could see the scar from a heart surgery above his T-shirt line and Trace Adkins was famously shot in the heart and survived, and there was a Trace Adkins concert that weekend at Bethel Woods, aka Woodstock, which is maybe a half hour away? Also appeared to have bodyguards, which is not something you see at car shows particularly often. Or ever, actually. I didn't ask because he was clearly just there to enjoy the car show but I think he knew that I recognized him (I did a double take). got a tip of the cowboy hat, also a rare sight to see at a car show and hour and a half north of NYC.

Back in May my brother and I drove from home to Utah and then down to New Mexico and it cost us less than that.

An experience. Take her somewhere she has always wanted to go. It's a present, but requires no storage or maintenance. Make up a fancy flyer or coupon so there is something to unwrap Christmas morning.

I have read that the Edsel front end is a bolt on replacement for the Ranchero, although I do not know if that's 100% true. Maybe the more knowledgeable folks on here than me can confirm or deny? The rear side cove on the retractable 58 Edsel appears to be from a 58 Edsel Wagon, not a sedan.

This is not going to be a popular answer on this forum, but the Adirondack Nationals in Lake George NY. My favorite town in the world filled to the brim with old cars everywhere you look. Most of them are not stock and pre war while not unknown is not common at the show. I don't care. The pure enjoyment of that show, the memories it's given me...nothing can top it. (For example, the last thing I did with my dad before he lost his battle with cancer was that show) I missed it this year due to a foot injury and I'm still depressed about it two + months later. My favorite building in the world is the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which I just returned from visiting again. It's a 12 hour drive from me one way. And it's totally worth it. My life revolves around NASCAR.

Part of my hometown literally blew up last month because the gas/power company hit a line while excavating to replace the same exact line. It made national news... although they referred to us as just outside NYC, when we are an hour and a half north. Amazingly no one was killed but I believe some are still hospitalized.

Cruel irony that a man nicknamed Fireball for his baseball pitch dies in a horrendous fire. .and that it could have been prevented if NASCAR had allowed fuel cells.

You're welcome Jim, I'm obsessed and obsessive with NASCAR history. I literally build my life around it.

I grew up poor. Any car that actually started and stayed running the entire trip was rare 😂 It's funny but I didn't have a reliable car until 2018...and then it was lost in an accident in May of this year. Compared to the vast majority of the members of this forum I'm still poor 😂. I know there are people a lot worse off than I am however. Maybe if I stopped buying so many models and diecasts and trading cards I could even afford an old car. The odds of me having enough willpower to do that is slim, even though I already had to rent a storage unit to hold them 😂

The window net debuted in late 1970 after Richard Petty barrell rolled down the front stretch in Darlington, with his arm flailing out the window. The first net was sewn by either his mom or his wife, I can't recall. Many sources including NASCAR's own website list that the nets were a result of Joe Weatherly's fatal crash at Riverside in 1964 but that is untrue. They also say his head hit the wall but there is photographic proof that didn't happen. I did not save those photos...even though I've built my life around documenting NASCAR history I have limits, I am not saving photos of driver's dead bodies.

FYI...the last time the cars were truly factory stock was 1954. In that year NASCAR mandated roll cages mid season in all cars after Herb Thomas was nearly killed in a flip. I just returned from a trip to NC on Sunday night. I had to see this place while I still could. I also visited the RCR museum and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Photos will be on my website. Will not be posted here since they are all post war and non stock.

In regards to the original topic of the thread...it's probably about one of two things. Most likely is money, and spending as little as possible. The second option, which I could see more on the replacement windows especially, is the desire to only use original parts over recreations, even if the latter is superior.

I don't build a lot of pre-War stuff...I don't build a lot of vehicles that aren't race cars. But I'm tackling a project that will be quite challenging and it actually fits into the theme of the board so I'll share my progress. It will not be quick. I was given this Hubley 1930 Packard kit several years ago. The box is disintegrating before my eyes, and it's entirely possible some of the parts I'm missing were in the box when I received it but have since fallen out and gotten lost. I believe this kit was made around 1961 but there is no copyright info on the box, paperwork or kit itself. Luckily the instructions are present, as well as an order form to order replacement parts. If only! I definitely need the instructions because I've never built a kit with working steering before, and each model kit manufacturer does their kits a little differently. This is my first Hubley kit. I've built more than 400 plastic models and more than 500 diecast rebuilds (all NASCAR) but this is something in between. It's diecast but it's also a full kit. Someone had started the kit a long time ago. One of the unusual things about the Hubley kit is that it screws together, so it can be taken apart and refitted repeatedly. That is surely going to help me. It was partially painted a metallic red, but the paint job is fairly poor- it appears to be done with a brush, it's chipped in several places and oddly not all of the car was painted. Like so. I will be removing the paint. Since I am going to try and save the interior panels, which will be a challenge, it will make more work to strip the paint off the body but in the end I think it will be worth it. I do not know yet what color I will make the finished car. I'm not close to that stage yet. The underside is nicely detailed but the screws do take away somewhat of the realism. Since I don't display my cars upside down, I don't really care about the undersides of builds. I probably will retain the original red there as a nod to this specific kit's life history. You can also see the three pour tabs on the running board that I will need to file off, top center of photo. Some of the parts that are ahead of me. All of the parts will need to be cleaned, and some of the metal parts will require some work to make them usable. The kit is supposed to have operable steering from turning the steering wheel but I'm not sure if I have all those parts yet, I think I am missing a tube. I can, however, fabricate my own to replace it so I'm not too worried about that. The tires all have whitewall stickers, which have not aged well. I'm hoping they come off when I get the tires wet to wash them, as they are all quite dirty. The windows are going to be a problem. The ones included in the kit are shot...but at least I can use them as patterns to make new ones. The windshield frame is broken in the middle and on both sides. That will be a challenge to fix. The second cowl's windshield frame is missing entirely which is a BIG problem. It's not particularly complex but would be the most complex shape I've scratchbuilt, if I go that route. I'm going to keep my eyes out for a parts kit for a bit, hopefully finding that part. I'm really glad the decals have survived unused and they look good to go. There are supposed to be two each of these, the side mirror and the lights atop the fenders. However, I only have one of each. If I cannot find a parts kit, I will have to make resin copies of these parts and simulate the chrome plating on them. It's not easy but it can be done...I'd rather not have to. Even worse for me...none of the four door handles are there. If I had one I could make more, but I don't have that. I don't know yet how I'm going to solve that problem. Some of the parts are still on the trees. and although they will need a cleaning they are in good shape. With how detailed and complex the kit construction is, I am surprised the headlights- the two round parts shown center, if not obvious, are so low tech. And that's as far as I got in day one of the project, taking photos. The next step will be unscrewing the body so I can begin paint removal and see if it will be possible to save the interior trim, which was provided as a decal. I will also need to wash the parts as they are a little dirty. Although these kits are from the early days of modeling, there isn't a lot of demand for them, and you can still find them fairly cheap...it would probably have been better to start with a fresh kit, which you can still find for around $40. The slightly odd scale plays a role too, as this kit is 1/22 scale. The standard in the hobby is 1/25 or 1/25, which are nearly but not-quite interchangeable. (plastic kits from the same time frame that were never reissued, if unbuilt, go for $200 or more, as there is a lot more demand. I've spent $225 on one myself, that was only ever issued once in 1960, but I digress.) I may get one of them to build while searching out parts for this one.

Happy belated birthday to the several of you who had them recently!

I have suggested several times that we have a section to talk about cars that will one day reach AACA status, but have found little to no support. A place to build up a knowledge base for the future, if you will. The "working knowledge" of these cars is going to get lost and forgotten and then when they reach AACA classification level, people will be looking for information on them that we may collectively have but have no place here to share. Had but perhaps lost or forgotten by then. I love cars...all cars, really...my interest doesn't have a yearly cutoff limit. While I have little to actually contribute I'd certainly enjoy reading about them. The suggestion for Facebook groups and specific forums is all well and good but they aren't the people here. The people we are familiar with on this forum are known and trusted, and we care what they have to say because they have shown us who they are through our interactions with them. Many of the people who I value the insight of are not on Facebook or other websites is what I'm trying to say.

The next street over from me a guy has a large mobile home camper in one. It's been there for probably 15 years or more and has survived 20+ inches of snow falling on it in one storm, I think 25 or so inches possibly...I can't remember what our high was in that time. Don't know what brand it is or if the fact that it's for a camper would make any difference, but it has survived unscathed and has maintained it's integrity. It does have moss growing on it.

I hear it was a great show. My chronic health problems acted up so I wasn't able to get there.

Aw man, that's sad news.

Here are some pictures...yes, that's me in the background of the Cordoba shot. I included a photo of my dad with his 1955 Chevrolet in 1968, holding his trophy from the Dover Dragstrip. The trophy, now in 4 pieces, survives.

After my dad was diagnosed with cancer, i made a list of all the cars he could remember, and wrote it down on looseleaf. I wish I knew where that sheet was now. He's been gone since 2002 so can't ask him now. Family cars are easy. Although my dad went through a lot of cars because he refused to spend more than $400 on a car, even as late as the year 2000. Family cars of my lifetime, starting 1984: 1. 1971 Ford Torino wagon. Dark metallic green. I don't remember this one as I was too little but there are pictures of me on the hood so I know it was my lifetime. 2. 1980s Ford LTD wagon. Blueish. Did not last long. Don't know what happened to it. Only know it exists because there's a picture. 3.1980s Ford LTD wagon, greenish. Both wagons were gifts from my uncle and my dad tried to kill both of these cars...and succeeded. I remember the green one, but not well. Probably gone in 87-88. 4. 1978 Chrysler Cordoba. I don't remember exactly how long we had it but wasn't very long. My dad hated this car, it was one of only three cars he couldn't fix. Donated it to a relative. 5. 1973 Ford Torino wagon. Metallic orange with brown vinyl interior and a black tailgate for some reason. I have fond memories of this car, and we had it until 1991, when my dad junked it. This is the earliest car we have a photo of me being actually in. After family duty my dad used it for his commute to work. 6. 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle. Metallic blue. This was and is my mom's dream car, but we have always been on the poor side so condition was not great. The floor rusted out...I remember being in it and seeing the road going by...instead of fixing it, which he had the skills to do, my dad sold it while Mom was at school, she volunteered over 10,000 hours at the local school from 1990-2003. She has never gotten over that car and I've tried to find a replacement for her but have been unable to find a blue 4-door 70-72 Chevelle. 7. 1983 Chevrolet Citation. Metallic blue, hatchback. 1991-97 as a family car, 97-98 as my dad's backup car. I gave myself a concussion on this car in the Walmart parking lot which led to the next car. The Citation wasn't in good shape either. It broke down frequently, turning on the radio or air conditioning made it shut off, and eventually the roof liner started to fall down so dad just ripped it out and it was just bare foam. According to Dad the driveshaft broke on 684 and he junked it and bought a new car instead of fixing it. 8. 1990 Ford Aerostar. Two shades of metallic blue. Of all the cars on this list this one was actually my favorite...or at least the favorite memories are from. We had it until 2003, but like every other car it was plagued by problems. Rust also ate it alive, finding parts of the body rusted off in the driveway was a daily occurrence. One time we hit a pothole on the Taconic State Parkway and the headlight came loose because the attachment point rusted away. Even so, I'd love to have it back. We traded it to the mechanic we started going to after we lost my dad. 9. 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee. White with tan interior. First non blue interior since the 74 Torino. We bought it in 2003 and still have it although it last ran in 2015. This is kind of a love hate relationship. I'm extremely attached to it because it was the first vehicle I ever had any say in my family getting, but it almost never worked. It was broken down more than it ran, and it would just shut off whenever it felt like it and not turn back on. I don't have many fond memories of the Jeep that aren't tainted by the memories of having to walk home. We had no working family car from 2015-18. 10. 2018 Ford Edge, metallic red with tan interior. The first new family car my family ever bought, we actually felt safe going on long trips with the Edge. For the first time in my life I knew we would not have to be towed home! Until May of this year when we were on a cross country trip and were rear ended on I-25 in Colorado Springs and it was totaled. 11. 2018 Ford Edge, pearl white with tan interior. After doing some searching I found a 2018 Edge that was basically a perfect match for the red one except it was white. It had the exact same options except for the wheels, but everything else is identical. Hopefully we will keep it for quite a while. In addition to the family cars, my dad always had two cars that were his alone that he would use to take to work and for tool storage. Usually only one car worked at a time, because as I noted above, my dad was always buying cars other people gave up on and he could get them cheap. 12. 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit. Sky blue. He had this one from 1994 or 95 to 97. I know there was another car before this one but I don't remember what it was. I don't know what he did with it. 13. 1985 Volkswagen Quantum. Three shades of brown although originally only one shade. My dad loves this car, it was his favorite he ever owned he said. It was pretty strong too. He crashed multiple times in it and barely dented it...we found out his cancer had made him mostly blind but he had kept it secret. A snowplow hit it when it was completely covered in a blizzard, barely bending the bumper. A school bus backed into it at his weekend job, and cracked a blinker lens. It was built like a tank. I distinctly remember the door handle rusting off and my dad reaching into the rusty hole with his bare finger to open the door... somehow he actually fixed that too. We donated it after his passing. 14. 1991 Subaru Legacy wagon. Dark red. The last car my dad got, sometime around 1998-2000, and the only car on this list I was never in. Donated after his passing. My brother's cars have often served as the family car when the family car wasn't working, and as our only car from 15-18. 15. 1986 Plymouth Reliant (KCar). Maroon with red interior. Was my brother's daily driver from 1990-94 when he was stopped at a stop sign and the guy behind him decided stop signs don't apply to him. 16. 198? Plymouth Horizon. A cheap replacement to get my brother back and forth to college and work, this had the shortest tenure in the family, and like with every other Mopar on the list, gave nothing but trouble and rarely worked. Traded in for the next car. 17. 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier. White with black interior. This is my brother's favorite car. He got it in February 97 and kept it until December 2005, when the engine block cracked. This was also the first car I ever drove. 18. 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. Metallic blue with tan interior. Bought December 2005 and had until 2020, traded for replacement. This was our longest distanced car, going from Maine to Ohio, until eclipsed by the red Edge which went from Maine to Wyoming and down to South Carolina. The Cobalt was damaged in a flood in 2018 and after that happened it was nothing but problems. 19. 2014 Ford Fusion, light metallic blue. My brother bought this car during a tornado (we didn't know it at the time), during the height of the pandemic. It turns out he hates the transmission in it and plans to replace it by the end of 2023. Although it will last longer than the Horizon, we have made very few memories in this case since we never needed to use it as our only family car. He won't miss it. Due to my health problems I am not able to drive or work on a car, which prevents me from having any old cars or even a new car.

The song is one of my all time favorite songs. If I ever get talked into doing the karaoke thing that one of our local car shows does, there's a very good chance I'll request that. I've seen the movie but I'm not really a movie person. It wasn't bad but I just naturally dislike watching movies.